Committing to Lower Tuition Increases

Very few colleges and universities have actually cut their tuition, according to a National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities survey of members released in June. Other measures have been taken, though. Some institutions have frozen or allowed buying of four years, including Catawba University (N.C.) and the Sage Colleges (N.Y.). Others have committed to lower tuition increases than in the past. For example, 2011-2012 tuition rates at these colleges have gone up modestly:

Boston University, 3.85 percent

Elmira College (N.Y.), 3 percent

Elon University (N.C.), 3.98 percent

Georgetown University (D.C.), 2.9 percent

Lehigh University (Pa.), 3 percent

Princeton University, 1 percent

Syracuse University (N.Y.), 3.8 percent

Yet, according to NAICU, private college and university tuition and fees rose an average of 4.6 percent for 2011-12, continuing several years of increases in the 4 percent range, versus the average annual increase of 6 percent during the 10 years prior to the recession. To balance the increases in tuition, NAICU reports an average increase of 7 percent in institutional aid.